JACKSONVILLE -- On a weekend littered with major injuries across the league, the Cincinnati Bengals probably just wanted to get through Sunday night's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars safe and sound.
They didn't make it past pregame warmups.
Three of the Bengals 2015 Pro Bowlers left the game or were unable to play with an injury on Sunday night. Running back and special teams captain Cedric Peerman broke his left forearm in the first half after being tackled. Cornerback Adam Jones pulled up lame in pregame warmups with a strained calf. Wide receiver A.J. Green had a scare when he injured his knee after planting awkwardly during a play, something that he said wasn't serious but ended his night anyway.
"I think I just came down on it, banged knees, but I’m fine. It sucks because I wanted to play a little bit longer," Green told Michelle Tafoya at halftime.
The third preseason game is always a tricky one for teams, who have to balance getting their starters enough playing time to establish the necessary chemistry with each other and pulling them out before a serious injury can occur. The Bengals weren't so lucky on that front Sunday, which is likely why the first team was pulled almost entirely midway through the second quarter of the 26-21 loss.
The Bengals starting offense was fairly flawless in execution, with quarterback Andy Dalton completing 6-of-10 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown to running back Giovani Bernard. Running back Jeremy Hill also had a touchdown early in the second quarter.
QB depth chart: Dalton and the running backs ran a successful screen game early and often, with the 19-yard touchdown to Bernard (set up by Clint Boling and C.J. Uzomah blocks). Dalton threw mostly short, quick passes on Sunday, but he might have given his coaches a scare at the end of the first half when he kept the ball and dove for a first down. He came out on the next series.
Dalton and backup AJ McCarron both played about 1 1/2 quarters, with McCarron completing 8-of-12 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. McCarron came out in the fourth quarter and was replaced by Joe Licata. It's clear the Bengals will carry only two quarterbacks on the active roster in the regular season.
Maybe that dude could start: Uzomah, the Bengals' 2015 fifth-round draft pick, could be seeing some playing time to start the season with both tight ends Tyler Eifert and Tyler Kroft hurt. Uzomah, along with guard Clint Boling, made a nice block on the Bengals first offensive series of the game to help spring Bernard for a 19-yard touchdown. Uzomah was also targeted three times with one reception for 10 yards.
Who got hurt? Who didn't? Besides the aforementioned injuries to Green, Jones and Peerman, offensive lineman T.J. Johnson was taken to the locker room in the third quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. Peerman's injury, which is likely season ending, probably affects the roster the most. The team will now look to keep an extra player who could be on the special teams unit.
A surprise player who impressed:Could you call safety Derron Smith a surprise after he had a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Lions? Smith had another impressive play on Sunday, swatting away Blake Bortles' pass attempt to Julius Thomas on third-and-11 in the end zone. Smith's PBU forced the Jaguars to settle for a 29-yard field goal.
When it was starters vs. starters: The Bengals looked like a winning team. Both the offense and defense ran smoothly in the first quarter. The starting offense scored on two of its three series, while the starting defense forced a turnover and two straight three-and-outs.
The Bengals starting defense got pressure on Bortles early, and it took only four plays for Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga to strip running back T.J. Yeldon. Vincent Rey pounced on the ball for the turnover at the Jaguars 38-yard line, setting up the Bengals offense for a quick score.
"I'd say it was just an instinctive play," Maulauga said in quotes distributed by the team at halftime. "It was a good play to start off the game by us. It got some mojo going and we didn't allow much the rest of the way. Vinny [Rey] did a good job scooping the ball up."
Aside from the injuries, the Bengals likely came away pleased from how their starters worked together in the first quarter.
One reason to be concerned: Dalton and wide receiver Brandon LaFell didn't have a chance to develop any sort of game rapport prior to Sunday's game after LaFell sat out the first half of the preseason with a hand injury. That still hasn't changed. Dalton's only pass attempt to Hill fell incomplete when the Jaguars were flagged for pass interference. Lafell's only reception of the game came from McCarron for an eight-yard gain in the second quarter. It's likely neither will play in the fourth game on Thursday, meaning the practice reps are all they'll have to go off heading into the regular season.
"He’s ready," Green told NBC at halftime. "That guy is the ultimate pro, man. He’s been around this league for a long time. He’s played well everywhere he went and I think he’s going to be big for us."
Erickson breaking out: Although it seemed like veteran Brandon Tate, the franchise's all-time leading kick returner had the roster spot ahead of rookie Alex Erickson, that grip has been slowly loosening.
Erickson, who had an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Vikings, continued to show his elusiveness on Sunday. He slipped out of what seemed like a sure tackle to run down the sidelines for a 39-yard return. Erickson has made himself a tough cut for the Bengals.
Remembering Darian Daily: The Bengals unexpectedly lost longtime groundskeeper Darian Daily, who passed away unexpectedly on Saturday. He wasn't forgotten as the team traveled to Jacksonville. The Bengals placed a sign on the wall of EverBank Field in pregame warmups that read: "Who Dey. RIP Darian Daily." The sign remained up for the duration of the game.